Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Public Health 11/2023

Open Access 17-08-2022 | Suicide | Original Article

Suicidal ideations among students attending vocational school in Germany: a cross-sectional study to identify prevalence and associated risk factors

Authors: Patricia Lamlé, Lea Keuch, Lilith Pukas, Juliane Reinsch, Heiko Röder, Hanna Clausner, Stefan Watzke

Published in: Journal of Public Health | Issue 11/2023

Login to get access

Abstract

Aim

Even though students attending vocational school are very vulnerable to the development of mental health problems, few studies identify the correlation between suicidal ideations and vocational education. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence and associated risk factors for suicidal ideations among vocational students in Germany.

Methods

We conducted a cross sectional survey with a total of 555 pupils. The pupils received a standardized questionnaire, assessing sociodemographic data, the use of protective factors, possible risk factors, traits for neuroticism and depressive symptoms. For our study, we excluded item 9 from the Beck depression index (BDI-II) to identify the prevalence of suicidal ideation.

Results

Our results show that the prevalence of suicidal ideation among students attending vocational school is 23.2%. A combination of feeling lonely, male sex, low importance of religion, little time for hobbies and BMI scores outside the norm show the highest risk for suicidal ideation and can be identified as significant predictors.

Conclusion

This cross-sectional study highlights the mental burden vocational students in Germany are confronted with and underlines the necessity of paying special attention to this group of young adults. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity of further studies on this topic, especially including larger student populations. The results should be used to decrease the significant loss of life caused by suicidal behavior in young adults.
Literature
go back to reference Beck AT, Steer RA, Brown GK (1996) Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory-II. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation Beck AT, Steer RA, Brown GK (1996) Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory-II. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation
go back to reference Benatov J, Nakash O, Chen Gal S, Abu Kaf S, Brunstein Klomek A (2016) Religious-ethnic differences in prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and attempts among Israeli vocational education students. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci 53(3):40–46PubMed Benatov J, Nakash O, Chen Gal S, Abu Kaf S, Brunstein Klomek A (2016) Religious-ethnic differences in prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and attempts among Israeli vocational education students. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci 53(3):40–46PubMed
go back to reference Borkenau P, Ostendorf F (1989) Untersuchungen zum Fünf-Faktoren-Modell der Persönlichkeit und seiner diagnostischen Erfassung. Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie 10(4):239–251 10 Borkenau P, Ostendorf F (1989) Untersuchungen zum Fünf-Faktoren-Modell der Persönlichkeit und seiner diagnostischen Erfassung. Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie 10(4):239–251 10
go back to reference Brent DA, Perper JA, Moritz G, Baugher M, Roth C, Balach L, Schweers J (1993) Stressful life events, psychopathology, and adolescent suicide: a case control study. Suicide Life Threat Behav 23(3):179–187CrossRefPubMed Brent DA, Perper JA, Moritz G, Baugher M, Roth C, Balach L, Schweers J (1993) Stressful life events, psychopathology, and adolescent suicide: a case control study. Suicide Life Threat Behav 23(3):179–187CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Curran TA, Gawley E, Casey P, Gill M, Crumlish N (2009) Depression, suicidality and alcohol abuse among medical and business students. Ir Med J 102(8):249–252PubMed Curran TA, Gawley E, Casey P, Gill M, Crumlish N (2009) Depression, suicidality and alcohol abuse among medical and business students. Ir Med J 102(8):249–252PubMed
go back to reference García Herrero AM, Sánchez-Meca J, Álvarez-Muñoz FJ, Rubio-Aparicio M, Navarro-Mateu F (2018) Neuroticismo e ideas suicidas: un estudio meta-analítico (Neuroticism and suicidal thoughts: a meta-analytic study). Rev Esp Salud Publica 92:e201808049 García Herrero AM, Sánchez-Meca J, Álvarez-Muñoz FJ, Rubio-Aparicio M, Navarro-Mateu F (2018) Neuroticismo e ideas suicidas: un estudio meta-analítico (Neuroticism and suicidal thoughts: a meta-analytic study). Rev Esp Salud Publica 92:e201808049
Metadata
Title
Suicidal ideations among students attending vocational school in Germany: a cross-sectional study to identify prevalence and associated risk factors
Authors
Patricia Lamlé
Lea Keuch
Lilith Pukas
Juliane Reinsch
Heiko Röder
Hanna Clausner
Stefan Watzke
Publication date
17-08-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords
Suicide
Suicide
Published in
Journal of Public Health / Issue 11/2023
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-022-01745-9

Other articles of this Issue 11/2023

Journal of Public Health 11/2023 Go to the issue